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Hello all. Has anyone here ever had success with floating anacharis or hornwort in their aquariums. I have tried this and the hornwort gets all brown and the tips fall off. The anacharis also has its tips fall off and the plant starts to get a couple of new plants on it. I run scared and plant it in the gravel right away fearing that these buds will die. Both the hornwort and the anacharas do great when planted in the substrate. The hornwort also does great when it grows to the top and is allowed to grow across the surface(it eve gets slightly bronze tips which turn a bright green after a while. I think this is a mater of the plants going into the shadows of the surface. Am I right?

Btw, is it true that they suck up more nitrates/phosphates if floated?

Hi,
Floating plants will get their nutrients directly from the
water column. Anacharis and hornwart generally do better
if they are left to float along the surface. Frequently
if they bud and you immediately plant them, they will either
not survive or they will "melt" or wilt while they grow the
roots necessary to anchor themselves and begin to draw
nutrients from the gravel. Whenever you move plants like
that, they have to acclimate to the new conditions that you
have placed them in. For instance, from floating to needing
to grow roots. During that time they draw from their
reserves and that causes the regression.

Frank


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How much light do you have, and are you dosing any ferts/co2 or anything?

And how are you getting hornwort to root? There are technically 2 species of hornwort, and neither of them can root... you may be confused with another plant (cabomba, asian ambulia)?

Yes, it is true that floating plants absorb more nitrates when floating. They draw the nitrates straight out of the water column. If they're planted, they can't get as much light, and will draw some waste out of the gravel, but not much out of the water column.

My guess that not enough light is your problem. I have had no problems growing anacharis and both species of hornwort in tanks that have enough light. I also dose ferts and co2 for other plants, but the hornwort goes absolutely crazy over the co2

Have fun

I found that the Salvinia natans is a very good floating plant &amp; i suggest, that you'll try it.


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The lighting is 1.25watts with a small CO2 system. The plants grow great anchored into the gravel(eco complete for the planted aquarium) but do not do great floated. They have never melted on me either. The hornwort(not Cabomba or Asian Ambulia{they need higher light}) grows about 5 in. in one week and the anacharis grows a little more than that. I think they dont do good in my tank(floating) because i dont have an open top aqaurium and the light sits right on top of the tank. I have never actually gotten any roots on the hornwort, i ment that i grow them placed in the gravel.